Dr. Brenda McCartney, Superintendent of Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS), has announced her plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2025–26 school year. Her retirement will take effect on June 30, 2026.
Dr. McCartney stated that the decision to retire—her second from GCPS—was made with mixed emotions. “I find what I do very personally rewarding. My successor will inherit a district filled with talented staff, fantastic students, and a supportive community,” she said. Over the coming months, Dr. McCartney will work closely with the Board of Education and her successor, once appointed, to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
Dr. McCartney’s career in education spans more than five decades, beginning in 1971. Many of those years have been spent serving Garrett County students in a variety of roles, including classroom teacher, teaching principal at Kitzmiller Elementary, central office administrator, and, most recently, Superintendent of Schools.
“It has been a privilege to work with the caring and talented people in our district whose singular focus has been our students,” Dr. McCartney noted. She expressed gratitude to the Board of Education members she has partnered with throughout her tenure, emphasizing their shared commitment to student success, stewardship, and service to the community. Dr. McCartney added, “I am proud of our shared legacy reflected in instructional initiatives; student and public school advocacy efforts at the local and state level; and capital improvement projects that reflect this district’s pride in its students and the importance of their educational experience.”
The Garrett County Board of Education will begin planning for the search and selection process for the next Superintendent of Schools in the coming months.
